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On January 19, 2015, the Hendersonville Police Department received a report of a home invasion at 226 Campus Drive. The caller stated that two male suspects wearing dark clothes and a ski mask had forced their way into the residence. Both victims suffered minor injuries.

On January 19, 2015, Andrew K. Scruggs, age 38, of Hendersonville, Tennessee was arrested.

The investigation continued and on March 2, 2015, Detective Bachman and members of H.P.D. arrested the second suspect in this case identified as Matthew J. Mertens, age 28, of Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was charged with:

One count of especially aggravated Burglary, Two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, Two counts of aggravated assault, One count of theft over one thousand dollars, One count of theft over five hundred dollars, and One count of vandalism over five hundred dollars.

He was transported to the Sumner County Jail where his bond was set at one hundred thousand dollars and his General Sessions Court date was set for March 25, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. A photograph is attached to this release.

Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is encouraged to call the Hendersonville Police at 615-822-1111 or the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-573-5400. Tips may also be submitted anonymously by text to the number 274637 (crimes) using keyword TIPHPD.

The Hendersonville Police Department is attempting to locate Johnny W. Poff, a seventy-seven year old male white. He is believed to be confused and lost and has been missing since 9:30 a.m. this date. He is driving a black 2002 Ford Explorer four door bearing Tennessee registration plate U0722B.

The last traceable information places him just South of Paducah, Kentucky on or around I-24 at approximately 5:30 p.m. today possibly headed back towards Nashville. Mr. Poff has gray hair with blue eyes and is 5’10” tall and weighs 180 pounds. A photograph is attached to this release.

On February 19, 2015, members of the Hendersonville Police Department conducted alcohol compliance checks of several local establishments. Twenty-Four locations were visited and all refused to sell an alcoholic beverage to an underage customer.

The H.P.D. would like to thank all businesses who were in compliance and remind all others that the H.P.D. will continue to do random checks of all businesses selling alcoholic beverages.

Anyone with information regarding any crimes is encouraged to call the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-573-5400. Tips can also be submitted by text to the number 274637 (crimes) using keyword TIPHPD.

Although the numbers are not official yet, early reports indicate overall Group A reportable crimes have increased by 7.5 % in 2014. This represents 157 more reported crimes than in 2013. Looking historically at the broader picture, the city is still experiencing a 30% decrease in Group A reportable crimes since 2010.

“We take these numbers very seriously”, said Chief Mickey Miller. Looking closer at the increased number of reports, we see the leading cause was attributed to Simple Assaults. In 2013, Hendersonville reported 311 Simple Assaults, and in 2014 that number grew to 391, an increase of 80 reports or up 25.7%. Most of these Simple Assaults are attributed to domestic violence cases. In 2013, 61% of the reported Simple Assaults were domestic related. In 2014 that number grew to 68%. Domestic cases involving assaults are not crimes that can be easily patterned, or identified making prevention more difficult.

The next contributing factor for the increase can be directed tied to an increase in drug arrests. Drugs/Narcotic Violations and Drugs/Narcotic Equipment Violations both saw a significant rise with an increase of 41, and 44 reported crimes respectively. These particular crimes have a high clearance rate averaging 92% as most reported crimes result in an arrest.

Other individual areas of increase were noted to include Commercial Burglaries, up from 17 to 29 or 70.5%, Aggravated Assaults, up from 80 to 90, or 12.5% and Theft, All Other, up from 103 to 114 or 10.6%.

Even with the overall increase, we are still seeing several categories that have decreased. Weapon Violations, down -33.3%, Robbery, down -20%, Shoplifting, down -13.8%, Theft from Motor Vehicles, down -3.9%, and Residential Burglaries, down -2.5 %.

In the fall of 2010, Hendersonville Police began a Community Service Program. It was created to engage the public through a series of one-on-one community meetings to share our strategy of reducing crime, and listening to the ideas and problems unique to the particular neighborhood group. The Community Service Program continues to be a great partnership between the police department and the citizens. To date, we have met with hundreds of citizens representing over 30 community groups, and we continue to build these relationships. This program has been a major key to our continued success.

If you have not had an opportunity to participate in a community group meeting, or if you would like more information on any of the services provided by the department, we encourage you to please visit our website, or call 615-590-2677 for more information.

As a result of the cooperative efforts of the Hendersonville Police Department, Metro Nashville Police Department and the Gallatin Police Department, four suspected robbers have been taken off the streets.

On January 27, 2015 shortly after 8:30 PM, Hendersonville Police received information of a robbery that had just occurred at a Kangaroo Express Market in Gallatin, TN. Following this information, a Hendersonville FLEX Officer observed a matching vehicle and suspects exhibiting suspicious behavior near a Hendersonville market.

Hendersonville patrol units stopped the vehicle and subsequent investigation led to the arrest of the four occupants for Armed Robbery. The same four have been identified as suspects in the prior robbery of Exxon in Hendersonville on January 22, and each has been charged with Armed Robbery for that incident as well.

As a result of continued investigation, additional evidence has been discovered which incriminates this same group of arrestees in multiple armed robberies in the Metro Nashville jurisdiction. Additional charges are expected.

Two arrestees are juveniles, ages fifteen and sixteen, both of Nashville. Two adult arrestees are as follows: De’Montez Malone, age 18 of Nashville, and Chadzel Dionta Adams, age 18 of Nashville.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Please refer questions relevant to incidents outside of Hendersonville to the respective agency.

Anyone with information regarding this or other crime is encouraged to call the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-573-5400.

Tips can also be submitted by text to the number 274637 (crimes) using keyword TIPHPD.

On 01-22-2015 at 11:29 pm the Hendersonville Police Department responded to an Armed Robbery at the Exxon station at 1082 West Main Street.

Three (3) subjects entered the store, one armed with a long gun, robbed the clerk, and then fled on foot.

Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is encouraged to call the Hendersonville Police at 615-822-1111 or the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-573-5400. Tips may also be submitted anonymously by text to the number 274637 (crimes) using keyword TIPHPD.

The Hendersonville Police Department is actively seeking the public’s assistance in locating registered sex offender, 28 year old Joel Anthony Vaughn of Hendersonville. Vaughn has active warrants for violation of probation and criminal simulation.

Vaughn was on probation and being monitored by wearing an ankle bracelet, and in December, 2014, warrants were issued for criminal simulation. During attempts to locate and arrest Vaughn it was determined that he had removed the ankle bracelet and absconded.

Anyone with information regarding the location of Joel Anthony Vaughn or other crime is encouraged to call the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-573-5400. Tips can also be submitted by text to the number 274637 (crimes) using keyword TIPHPD.

Joel Anthony Vaughn turned himself into the Sumner County Jail on 01/23/15.

On January 19, 2015, the Hendersonville Police Department received a report of a home invasion at 226 Campus Drive. The caller stated that two male suspects wearing dark clothes and a ski mask had forced their way into the residence. Both victims suffered minor injuries.

The investigation continued and later on January 19, 2015, Andrew K. Scruggs, age 38, of Hendersonville, Tennessee was arrested for:

One count of especially aggravated Burglary, One count of especially aggravated kidnapping, One count of aggravated assault, One count of theft over one thousand dollars, One count of theft over five hundred dollars, and One count of vandalism over five hundred dollars.

His bond amount was set at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and his General Sessions Court date was set for February 11, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.

Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is encouraged to call the Hendersonville Police at 615-822-1111 or the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-573-5400. Tips may also be submitted anonymously by text to the number 274637 (crimes) using keyword TIPHPD.

On 01/10/15, Officers of the Hendersonville Police Department arrested Robert Addison, age 46, of Pembroke, Kentucky. During their investigation, the officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and items commonly used in the production of methamphetamine. Mr. Addison was charged with Possession of a Schedule II Drug (methamphetamine) with the intent to resale, Simple Possession of a Schedule VI Drug (marijuana), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Promotion of Methamphetamine Manufacturing. His Sumner County General Sessions Court Date is February 11, 2015 at 9 a.m. A photograph is attached to this release. At this time his bond has not been set.

Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is encouraged to call the Hendersonville Police at 615-822-1111 or the Hendersonville Crime stoppers at 615-573-5400.

Tips may also be submitted anonymously by text to the number 274637 (crimes) using keyword TIPHPD.

On 12/19/2014 during the night, someone broke into businesses located at 144 Volunteer Drive and 230 New Shackle Island Road in Hendersonville, Tn. The suspects also attempted to gain entry into 146 Volunteer Drive and 234 Old Shackle Island Road. Numerous items were stolen during these crimes.

On 1/02/2015, members of the H.P.D. were able to locate and arrest one juvenile (17) involved in these crimes and recover a majority of the stolen property.

On 1/04/2015, a second juvenile was arrested for these crimes and transported to Sumner County Juvenile Detention. Court dates will be set at a later time on both subjects.

Both juveniles were charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of attempted burglary, theft over one thousand dollars, and four counts vandalism.

Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is encouraged to call the Hendersonville Police at 615-822-1111 or the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-573-5400.

Tips may also be submitted anonymously by text to the number 274637 (crimes) using keyword TIPHPD.